I'am flying to an unfamilliar area, How should I know which controller to select when entering his airspace, is there any tools that tells you what airspace you are in or who to contact first.

HiI joined Vatsim only 10 days ago, so I might be wrong, but here's what's written in the VATSIM 121e - The Departure Clearance Process from PRC:Use the ATC Directory menu in Squawkbox (SB), the VATSIM

Stephen. I concur with the information given to you by Elprim for departing. If you you

Elprim is quite right. If you are at an airport, contact that airport's controllers (order as stated). If you are en route, each controller will tell you the next one to contact.The problem comes when you are flying somewhere where there is no controller and you cross into someone's controlled airspace. There are various possibilities:1. look on ServInfo which shows you roughly which positions cover which areas2. if the position name looks right, call them anyway - they'll soon tell you if you need to call someone else3. read the website of the area you are flying in, as it will have diagrams and charts to show you which areas are covered by whom.4. If you are arrriving at an airport, look for the approach controller for that airport e.g. EGKK_APP is Gatwick Approach. They cover the STARS from about 40 miles out to the final approach path. Some approach names are different if they cover several airports e.g. Essex radar covers both EGGW and EGSS. They will have the information about which airports they cover in their atis.5. If you are not sure who to call, pick a relevant looking controller and send them a private chat message to ask who you should call.6. If all else fails and a controller spots you flying in his airspace he will send you a message asking you to contact him. The default contact message is programmed into the software and is fairly brusque, so don't feel offended - it's just the quickest message to send when we're busy.RuthDeputy Director, Vatsim-UK

Please don't use private messages. You can't do it in the real world (well, you can call the guy on the phone, but he'd have to give you his phone number). My C-list is more and more only showing controllers. I know c list flashes when I have a message, but that is not a priority to me. My priorities are separting IFR from IFR and watching/listening to my comm frequency.Just call us on our frequency and we will reply with who to contact.

I know all of that guys, but when in a particular airspace and I'm not using servinfo, how should I know which controller to contact in a unfamilliar controlled area.

As Scott has said, if you are unsure, call one of us on frequency and we will soon direct you to the proper controller.